Explosive operated valve



1961 R. L. DETWILER 2,972,998

EXPLOSIVE OPERATED VALVE Filed July 2, 1956 ZNVENTOR R. L. DETWILER BY X4%;

United States Patent (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), see. 266)This invention may be manufactured and used by or for the Government ofthe United States of America for governmental purposes without thepayment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The present invention relates to an explosively operated valve and moreparticularly to an explosively operated valve in which the need of aretaining element for maintaining the valve in an open position does notarise.

In prior explosively operated valves, retaining devices of the detent orengagingly-locking type were employed to maintain the valve in openposition after the force of expansive gases produced by the explosivecharge were expended. These retaining devices not only add to the costof manufacture of this type valve but also obstruct the flow of thefluid passing therethrough. Furthermore, in order not to impede themovement of the valve-opening plunger and yet cooperate therewith uponcompletion of the valve-opening function, these retaining devices are ofnecessity of a complex character with respect to the cooperativelyinterlocking elements. Due to this complexity, great care must beexercised during the manufacture of the valve to properly arrange andalign the components thereof so that the interlocking elements are inregistry when the valve is in the open position. This type of devicedoes not readily lend itself to mass production techniques and issubject to failure due to the complex nature thereof.

The general purpose of this invention is to provide a novel explosivelyoperated valve which assures uninterrupted fluid flow upon opening ofthe valve and which does not employ, nor require, a retaining device formaintaining the valve open.

In accordance with the invention, a new and improved valve is providedwhich will open instantaneously upon detonation of an explosive chargeand which remains open regardless of the relative positioning of thevalve actuating members. Detonation of the explosive charge creates apressure above a piston linked with a valve body having a cutter in theforward end, the pressure propelling the piston to drive the cutterthrough a frangible diaphragm which formed a seal between a pair offluid passages connected to the valve. Arranged within the valve body isa continuous internal passage emerging in two spaced ports which are sodisposed as to provide fluid communication between the pair of fluidpassages for all positions which the valve body may assume in the valve.By the provision of this continuous internal passage, continuous fluidcommunication between the fluid passages is assured without employingunreliable and complex valve-opening retaining devices.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention toprovide a new and improved explosively operated valve which is positivein operation, simple in construction, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object is to provide an explosively operated valve which doesnot require a retaining device to maintain it in an open position.

A primary object is to provide an explosively operated ice valve which,once opened, remains open regardless of the relative positioning of thevalve actuating members.

The exact nature of this invention as well as other objects andadvantages will be readily apparent from consideration of the followingspecification relating the annexed drawing in which the figure is asectional elevation of the valve in the closed position, the dottedconfigurations indicating the positioning of the cutter and piston headwhen driven forwardly by detonation of a small explosive charge.

Referring to the drawing, an open-ended cylindrical metal casing,generally denoted by reference numeral 10 and having an axiallycylindrical forward chamber 12 and an enlarged axially cylindrical rearchamber 14, is sealed at the rear end by a metal cap 16 threaded thereon and housing an electrically ignited explosive charge 17 within arecess 18, conductors 11 and 13 supplying the ignition potential to thecharge through a bore 19 in cap 16. The explosive charge is shown inadjacency to a gas expansion chamber 20 positioned at the extreme rearof the rear chamber and above the movable valve member which comprises ametal piston 22 having a piston head 24 and an annular guide flange 26,the piston head 24 being machined to bear on the walls of chamber 14while the guide flange 26 bears on the walls of chamber 12 as the pistonis propelled forward by the spontaneous expansion of gases in chamber 20due to detonation of explosive charge 18. I

In lieu of flange 26, an annular shoulder formed integrally with thewalls of chamber 12 may be employed as a piston guide bearing.Alternatively, use of an annular flange or annular shoulder may bedisregarded since the piston head 24 provides suficient guide bearingwith the walls of chamber 14 as to make it unnecessary to employadditional guide means. It will be understood that the general principleof construction of the valve is unaltered if the valve is horizontal, orinclined, or operated vertically downward or upward.

An annular packing gland 28, such for example as rubber'gasket is seatedin a shoulder 29 at the junction of chambers 12 and 14 andco-mpressingly locked thereagainst by a metal ring 30 screwed inconforming threads on the walls of chamber 14. The packing gland 28serves the dual purpose of sealing chamber 14 from the fluid in chamber12 and of frictionally retaining piston 22 in cocked position. Acylindrical metal valve body 32, having a frusto-conical end portion 34defining a cutting edge 35, is either formed integrally with the pistonor is threaded thereon as shown.

An axial bore 37, entering the valve body 32 at the cutting edge 35, isin communication with a pair of transverse bores 39 and 40, it beingunderstood that any number of such transverse bores may be utilized. Atransverse inlet port 42, having a threaded portion 44 for receiving thefitting of an inlet fluid conduit, is provided in the Walls of casing 10in adjacency to chamber 12 to supply fluid thereto. It is to be notedthat fluid entering chamber 12 also flows through bores 37, 39, and 40which form a continuous passage internally of valve body 32.

A frangible metallic diaphragm 45, having a central concavo-convexportion circumferentially bounded by a planar annular portion, ispositioned with the planar annular portion thereof supercoincidentlyabutting the annular face of the open end of casing 10. Although adiaphragm formed in the aforedescribed manner facilitates the puncturingthereof by cutting edge 35, it is to be understood that a planardiaphragm could be elfectively employed without deleteriously affectingthe function of the valve. A coupler 47, threaded on casing 10, rigidlysecures diaphragm 45 by means of a hardened metal ring 49 to therebyseal chamber 12. A hollowed with hollowed out portion 5: It is apparentfrom an examination of the drawing that diaphragm 45 forms a sealbetween inlet and outlet ports 4-2 and S2, respectively and is adaptedupon perforation thereof by valve body 32 to provide communicationtherebetween through internal passages 37, 39, and 40. p

The length of piston 22 and casing are so proportioned with respect tothe associated components that, when the frusto co'nical portion 34 isin abutment with the 'frusto-conicalface 51 as shown by the dashedlines, the base of piston head 24 does not quite abut the upper face ofring 30 as also shown in dashed lines. Also,-the transverse bores, 39and 40, 'are'so spaced from cutting edge '55 that, when valve body 32 isin the forward or dashed line position, bores 39 and 40 remain inchamber 12 above diaphragm 45. In this manner, if body valve 32 remainsin the dashed line position, communi cation between inlet 42 and outlet44 is provided through bores 39 and 4t and axial bore 37. In the eventbody valve 32 rebounds from frusto-conical face 51 'due to "impacttherewith when driven forward upon detonation of the explosive charge,body valve 32 will float in chamber 12, and communication between ports42 and 52 will be effected directly through the perforated diaphragm 4'5and partially through the bores 39, 4t) and 37. Of

"course, if annular guide flange 26 is employed, it is so positioned asto be above port 42 when tapered portion '34 is in abutment with face51, otherwise flange 26 will block the flow of fluid from port 42 tochamberlZ.

The valve of the present invention is suitable for use "in connectionwith the passage of gas, water or other fluids under very high pressure,the thickness of diaphragm 45 being determined by the pressure utilized.

In operation, when the explosive charge 17 has been fired, thespontaneous expansion ofgases in chamber 2% drives the piston 22downward to thereby puncture diaphragm 45 whereby communication betweenports 42 and S2 is effected in either of the aforedescribed manners,depending on whether face 34 remains in abutment with face 51 due tofriction between the sheared edges of diaphragm 45 with valve body 32 orwhether valve body 32 rebounds and floats in chamber 12.

I Various modifications are contemplated and may obviously be resortedto by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. An explosive operated valve for permitting fluid communicationbetween a pair of fluid passages upon detonation of an'explosivecomprising a casing having a chamber in communication with said pair offluid passages, a frangible diaphragm in said chamber forming a sealbetween said passages, a valve body having a cutter at the forward endthereof and slideably mounted in said chamber to rupture said diaphragmwhen driven to a forward position, said valve body having internalpassages therein with inlet and outlet orifices for permitting fluidcommunication between said fluid passages upon rupture of saiddiaphragm, said body having an external conical surface at the forwardend thereof and an internal coaxial bore forming one of said internalpassages and intersecting said conical surface, a cutting edge of saidcutter formed by the intersection of said bore and said conical surface,explosively responsive means for drivingsaid body to said forwardposition through said diaphragm, and stop means limiting forward travelof said cutter to said forward position, said fluid passages being sodisposed that when the cutter is in said forward position fluidcommunication is established between said passages, said stop meanscomprising a conical shoulder portion providing a seat for said valvebody and engageable by said conical-surface to bring the cutter to restwhen the cutter has traveled to said forward position.

2. An explosive operated valve for permitting fluid communicationbetween a pair of fluid passages upon detonation of an explosivecomprising a casing having a pair of apertures each adapted to beconnected to an individual fluid passage, means forming a chamber insaid casing for permitting fluid communication therewithin between saidapertures, 21 frangible metal diaphragm so disposed in said chamber asto block fluid communication between said apertures, a valve body havinga cutter at the forward end thereof and slidably mounted in said chamberto perforate said diaphragm when driven to a forward position, saidvalve body having passages therein with inlet andoutle't orifices forpermitting fluid communication between said apertures upon perforationof said diaphragm, said valve body having 'an external frusto-conicalsurface at the forward end thereof and an internal coaxial bore formingone of said passages and intersecting said frustoconica l surface, saidcutter formed by the intersection of said bore and said frusto-conicalsurface, normally immobile driving means effective upon actuationthereof to drive said body and cutter to said forward position throughsaid diaphragm, electrical explosive means for actuating said drivingmeans upon detonation thereof, and'stop means limiting forward travel ofsaid cutter to said forward position, said fluid passages being sodisposed that when the cutter is in said forward position fluidcommunication is estab lis'hed between said passages, said stop meanscomprising a conical shoulder portion providing a seat for said valvebody and engageable by said frusto-conical surface to bring the cutterto rest when the cutter has traveled to said forward position.

3. An explosive operated valve for permitting fluid communicationbetween a pair of fluid passages upon detonation of an explosivecomprising a cylindrical casing having a pair of mutually spacedapertures each adapted to be connected to an individual fluid passage,means forming a chamber in said casing for permitting fluidcommunication therewithin between said apertures, a perforable metaldiaphragm so disposed in said chamber as to block fluid communicationbetween saidap'er'tures, a valve body having a tapered end portiondefining a coaxially cutting edge, said body being axially slidable insaid chamber with said cutting edge in face adjacency to said diaphragm,a bore entering said body'at said cutting edge and passing lengthwisepart way through said body, a diverging continuation of said boreemerging from the side of said body, explosively actuable means fordriving said cutting edge through said diaphragm to thereby permit fluidcommunication between said apertures, said fluid communication beingconsummated at least in part through the continuous bore in said body.and stop means limiting forward travel of said cutter to said forwardposition, said fluid passages being so disposed that when the cutter isin said forward position fluid communication is established between saidpassages. said stop means comprising a coaxially tapered shoulderforming a seat for the forward end of said valve body and engageable bysaid tapered end portion of the valve body to bring the cutter to restwhen the cutter has traveled to said forward position.

4. An explosive operated valve for permitting fluid communicationbetween a pair of fluid passages upon detonation of an explosivecomprising a casing having a chamber inthe forward end thereof andincom'munication with said fluid passages, afrangible diaphragmin saidchamber forminga seal between said-passages, a

rearwardly extending valve body having a cutter in face adjacency tosaid diaphragm and axially slidable in said chamber to perforate saiddiaphragm when driven forwardly, said body having continuous internalpassages emerging in mutually spaced orifices in said body forpermitting fluid communication therethrough between said fluid passagesupon perforation of said diaphragm, said valve body having an externalfrusto-conical surface at the forward end thereof and a coaxial boreforming one of said internal passages intersecting said frustoconicalsurface, said cutter formed by the intersection of said bore and saidfrusto-conical surface, a piston rearwardly disposed in said casing foraxial movement therein, said piston engaging said body and being adaptedunder influence of an explosive force to drive said body forwardlythrough said diaphragm, and stop means limiting forward travel of saidcutter to said forward position, said fluid passages being so disposedthat when the cutter is in said forward position fluid communication isestablished between said passages, said stop means comprising afrusto-conical shoulder portion engageable by said frusto-conicalsurface to bring the cutter to rest and to provide a seat for said valvebody when the cutter has traveled to said forward position.

5. An explosive operated valve comprising a cylindrical casing having aforward cylindrical chamber, a transverse fluid inlet passage in theside of said casing in communication with said chamber, an axial fluidoutlet passage in the forward end of said casing and in communicationwith said chamber, a perforable diaphragm transversely disposed in saidchamber to form a seal between the inlet and outlet passages, a valvebody having a tapered end portion defining a coaxially cutting edge,

said body being axially slideable in said chamber through said diaphragmto a forward position and being initially positioned adjacent said inletpassage with the cutting edge in face adjacency with said diaphragm, anaxial bore entering said body at said cutting edge and passinglengthwise part way through said body, transverse bores in the side ofsaid body in communication with said axial bore, said transverse boresbeing so disposed on said body as to remain rearwardly of said diaphragmwhen the body is in said forward position, stop means at said forwardposition to provide a seat for said end portion of said valve body, saidstop means comprising a shoulder portion having a coaxially disposedtaper, and explosively actuable means for axially driving said body tosaid forward position through said diaphragm to thereby provide fluidcommunication between said passages, said fluid communication beingconsummated at least in part through said axial and transverse bores insaid body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,781,027 Mapes Nov. 11, 1930 1,781,854 Mapes Nov. 18, 1930 2,059,189Allen Nov. 3, 1936 2,149,659 Bettis Mar. 7, 1939 2,515,068 Young July11, 1950 2,661,804 Haessler Dec. 8, 1953 2,815,882 Connell Dec. 10, 1957FOREIGN PATENTS 7 55,223 France May 23, 1951 877,390 Germany May 21,1953

